Rotary printing press



Feb. 10, 1948. LUEHRS 2,435,791

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Original Filed April 29, 1942 7 shee ts sheet 1 :1 \\N R5 Q I D L z a) a $1 uvmvron.

a 4 E W 14- I I l a a a i W Feb. 10, 1948. H. J. LUEHRS ROTARY PRIYNTING PRESS Original Filed April 29, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Feb. 10, 1948. H. J. LUEHRS 2,435,791

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Original Filed April 29, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 uma--- Elk Feb. 10, 1948. H. J. LUEHRS 2,435,791

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Original Filed April 29, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEINTOR.

Feb. 10,1948. H. J LUEHRS ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Original Filed April 29; 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I mmvmn. X

Feb. 10, 1948. H. J. ROTARY PRINTING PRESS ori inal Filed April 29, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF Continuation application Serial No. 440,917,

ICE

April :9, 1042. This application May 13, 1944,

Serial No. 535,78.

9 Claims. (01. 101-180) 1 My invention consists in a multicolor rotary printing press which may be readily converted to print on one or both sides of a traveling web as desired, without requiring material changes in the press structure. This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 440,917, filed April 29, 1942, since abandoned.

My invention is directed more particularly to a convertible printing press in which certain of the mechanisms may be rearranged or substituted by other printing mechanisms to print with any selected kind of ink whereby aniline, rotogravure, oil ink, or oflset printing may be produced, as desired.

My invention is also directed to a printing press of the above character in which the press is provided with gears, guide rolls and feed rolls which may be located in either the lower or upper position for accomplishing the perfecting or nonperfecting of the traveling web, respectively.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a diagram of my convertible printing press arranged for typographic or letter press printing with aniline inks and adapted to print six colors on one side only of a traveling web. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the gearing for driving the press when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a diagram of the press shown in Fig. 1 when converted to print two colors on one side of the traveling web and three colors on the other side thereof. Fig. 4 represents a side view of the gearing for driving the press when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represent a detail diagram of the convertible press when arranged for rotogravure printing in the upper units, mono-roll aniline printing in the intermediate units and standard aniline printing in the lower units, when adapted to print six colors on one side only of the traveling web. Fig. 6 represents a side view of the gearing for driving the press when the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 represents a diagram showing the parts arranged for perfecting all typographical printing with oil inks. Fig. 8 represents a diagram of,

arranged in two vertical stacks of three brackets each.

The web supply roll I! and the printed web rewind roll 13 are both shown as being carried by the roll frames l2. A series of guide rollers II are carried by the roll frames l2 and the top frames H for leading the web from the supply roll l5 to the upper pair of selectively used web feed rolls l8, 18, when the web is to be printed in six colors on one side only. as shown in Fig. 1.

A series of guide rollers 20 are carried by the base frames III for leading the web from the supply roll 13 to the lower pair of selectively used web feed rolls 2|, 22, when the web i to be printed in two colors on one side and three colors on the other side thereof, asshown in Fig. 3.

Another series of guide rollers 23 are carried by the top frames l I and serve to lead the printed web from the pair of feed rollers 24, 25 to the pair of feed rollers 23, 21 on its way from the printing units to the printed web rewind roll it, whether the web be non-perfected or perfected.

Each of the aniline ink printing units which are mounted on the short brackets l4 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 are shown as comprising an ink fountain 28, fountain roll 23, transfer roll 30, printing cylinder 3| of a selected size and its impression cylinder 32.

The drive for the six aniline printing units illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown in Fig. 2. The cross shaft 33 drives the rewind roll l6 through the pulley 34, belt 35, pulley 33 and gears 31, 38, 33. This cross shaft 33 also drives the longitudinal shaft 40 through the bevel gears 4|, 42. This longitudinal shaft 40 drives each of the printing unitsthrough the bevel gears 43. 44, cross shaft 45 and gears 43, 41, 43, 49, 50, ii, 52, 53, the gear Ill being common to all the gears 5|. It will be understood that the gears Ii for the printing units mounted on the right hand projecting brackets l4 are gears which may be relocated for the purpose of reversing the travel of the web through these two printing units when the web is to be perfected, as shown in Fig.

4. They also serve as adjusting gears for their respective printing units. Likewise the feed rolls I3, I 9 mayalso be relocated for perfecting the web to the feed rolls 2|, 22, as shown in Fig. 3.

The upper pair of web feed rolls l8. 19, when I used, may be driven from the gear 33 through the gears 54. 55. The pair of web feed rolls 24, 25 for the printed web may be driven from the gear 53 through the intermediate gear 36 and the gear 51 on the shaft 58 of the feed roll 24. The other pair of web feed rolls 23, 21 for the printed web 3 are driven from this shaft 58 of the feed roll 24 through the bevel gears 58, 60, cross shaft ti and bevel gears 62, B3.

The lower pair of web feed rolls Ii, 22, when used for perfecting the web, maybe driven from a gear 64 on the shaft 65 of the gear 49 through the gears 68, 61.

In Fig. I have shown the web in full lines arranged for being printed in rotogravure in the upper units, mono-roll aniline printing in the intermediate units and standard aniline printing in the lower units in six colors on one side only, and in broken lines arranged for being printed in two colors on one side and three colors on the other side of the web. Otherwise the arrangement of the printing units and the drive therefor are similar to the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the form shown in Figs, 5 and 6, the two upper printing units have their gravure printing cylinders 3| of a selected size partly enclosed in the ink fountains 68, said cylinders being directly contacted by the fountain rolls 29. In the two intermediate printing units the plate cylinders 3| which are located exterior to the ink fountains 69 are directly contacted by the fountain monorolls 29. In the two lower printing units the fountain rolls 29 and the transfer rolls 30 are located within the ink fountains in, and the plate cylinders 3| are located exterior to the ink fountains in contact with the transfer rolls 30.

In Fig. '1 I have shown the press as arranged for typographic printing in four colors, with oil inks. In this instance the two intermediate printin units have been removed and the web is shown in full lines arranged to be printed in four colors on one side only of the web, and in broken lines arranged to be printed in two colors on both sides of the web.

In this form each printing unit is shown as comprising an ink fountain H, its fountain roll 12, the ductor roll 13, distribution rolls l4 and form rollers 15,

It will be seen that in all of the forms, the inking mechanisms are mounted on the brackets l4 of the selected size projecting to the right and left from the press frames i3, thus rendering the press readily convertible for different types of printing with no change in the press frames, the impression cylinders and the drive.

In Fig. 8 two colors are printed in oflset on the first side of the web and both a tint and a single color on the second side of the web. In this form the first, second and fourth printing mechanisms include the ink fountains It, the working-up rolls II, the plate cylinders 18, the transfer cylinders 19 and the dampening devices 80. The color tinting unit is shown as comprising the fountain iii, the ink transfer cylinder 82 and the printing cylinder 83.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be seen that when the web is to be printed in six colors on one side only of the web the upper pair of web feed rolls l8, I9 are driven.

It will also be seen that when the web is to be printed in two colors on one side and three colors on the other side, the lower pair of web feed rolls 2i, 22 are driven. In this arrangement the gears 5| for the upper and lower printing units for the first side printing are shifted from their positions shown in Fig. 2 to the positions shown in Fig, 4 so as to reverse the movement of the upper and lower plate cylinders 3| and their respective impression cylinders 32.

It will be noted that when the lower gear BI is 4 shifted to its new position shown in Fig. 4 it be brought into mesh with the gear 84 of the gear ill, and the upper change gear ll be brought into mesh with the gear 54 instead the gear 50.

It will also be noted that in Fi 1 the I able brackets M are shown of a size to suit printing unit of a certain selected type. In F18. the intermediate bracket l4 and its Printing unit in the first stack are omitted. In Fig. brackets l4 are shown of a different size those shown in Fig. 1. Also the intermediate brackets l4 and their printing units in both stacks are removed.

It will be understood that changes similar to those hereinbefore referred to with respect to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive will be made in the drives for the embodiments shown in the remaining figures whenever the web is to be perfected instead of non-perfected.

It will also be understood that one pair of feed rolls may be changeably located in the upper and lower position according to the direction the web is to be fed instead of selectively using two pairs of these feed rolls.

A platform 84 may be provided on the base frame In for facilitating the access of the operator to the right hand stack of printing units.

From the above description it will be seen that the web may be easily adapted for printing on one or both sides thereof with diiferent kinds of ink, with the least possible disturbance of the press structure and the operative elements thereof.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary multicolor printing press, base frames, top frames, roll frames and press frames, changeable brackets projecting to the right and left from the press frames, a web supply roll, two upper series of web guide rollers carried by the top and roll frames and a lower series of web guide rollers carried by the base frames, two adjacent stacks of printing units carried by the press frames. means for leading the web over one of the upper series of guide rollers, through both stacks of the printing units and over the other upper series of guide rollers for non-perfecting the web and over the lower series of guide rollers, through both stacks of an e the printing units and over said other upper series of guide rollers for perfecting the web, and means for reversing the movement of one stack of the printing units when perfecting the web.

'2. In a rotary multicolor printing press, base frames, top frames, roll frames and press frames, changeable brackets projecting to the right and left from the press frames, a web supply roll and a web rewind roll carried by the roll frames, two upper series of web guide rollers carried by the top and roll frames and a lower series of web guide rollers carried by the base frames, two adjacent stacks of printing units carried by the press frames, means for leading the web over one of the upper series of guide rollers, through both stacks of the printing units and over the other upper series of guide rollers for non-perfecting the web and over the lower series of guide rollers.

through both stacks of the printing units and over said other upper series of guide rollers to the web rewind roll for perfecting the web, and means for reversing the movement of one stack of the printing units when perfecting the web.

3. In a rotary multicolor printing press, web supply and rewind rolls, first and second adjacent stacks of changeable printing units, means for leading the web from the supply roll along one path to and through the first stack and to and through the second stack, for non-perfecting the web, means for changing the web path from the supply roll to and through the first stack and to the second stack for perfecting the web,

and change means for driving the printing units of the first stack in one direction when non-perfecting the web and in the opposite direction when perfecting the web.

4. In a rotary multicolor printing press, web supply and rewind rolls, first and second adjacent stacks of changeable printing units; means for leading the web from the supply roll along an upper path to the top printing unit of the first stack, downwardly therethrough and to and through the second stack for non-perfecting the web, means for leading the web from the supply roll along a lower path to the bottom unit of the first stack, upwardly therethrough and to and through the second stack for perfecting the web, and change means for driving the printing unit of the first stack in one direction when nonperfecting the web and in the opposite direction when perfecting the web.

5. In a rotary multicolor printing press, web supply and rewind rolls,first and second adjacent stacks of changeable printing units, two pairs of selectively used feed rolls for the first stack, means for leading the web along one path from the supply roll to and through one pair of feed rolls to and through the first stack and to and through the second stack, for non-perfecting the web, means for leading the web from the supply roll along another path to and through the other pair of feed rolls to and through the first stack and to the second stack for perfecting the web, and change means for driving the printing units of the first stack in one direction when non-perfecting the web and in the opposite direction when perfecting the web.

6. In a rotary multicolor printing press, web supply and rewind rolls, first and second adjacent stacks of changeable printing units, two pairs of selectively used feed rolls for the first stack, means for leading the web along one path from the supply roll to and through one pair of feed rolls, to and through the first stack and to and through the second stack for non-perfecting the web, means for leading the web from the supply roll along another path to and through the other pair of feed rolls to and through the first stack and to the second stack for perfecting the web, and means including change gears for driving the printing units of the first stack in one direction when non-perfecting the web and in the opposite direction when perfecting the web.

7. In a rotary multicolor printing press, web supply and rewind rolls. first and second adiacent stacks of changeable printing units, upper and lower pairs of selectively used feed rolls for the first stack, means for leading the web along an upper path from the supply roll to and through the upper pair of feed rolls to the top unit of 6 the first stack, downwardly therethrough and to and through the second stack, for non-perfecting the web, means for leading the web from the supply roll to and through the lower pair of feed rolls to the bottom unit of the first stack, upwardly therethrough and to the second stack for perfecting the web, and change means for driving the printing units of the first stack in one direction when non-perfecting the web and in the opposite direction when perfecting the web.

8. In a rotary multicolor printing press, web supply and rewind rolls, first and second adjacent stacks of changeable printing units, upper and lower pairs of selectively used feed rolls for the first stack, means for leading the web along an upper path from the supply roll to and through the upper pair of feed rolls to the top unit 01 the first stack, downwardly therethrough and to and through the second stack for non-perfecting the web, means for leading the web from the supply roll to and through the lower pair of feed rolls to the bottom unit oi the firststack, upwardly therethrough and to the second stack "for perfecting the web. and means including change gears for driving the printing units oi the first stack in one direction when non-perfecting the web and in the opposite direction when perfecting the web.

9. In a convertible rotary multicolor web printing press, web supply and rewind rolls, first and second adjacent stacks oi changeable printing units, feed rolls changeably located in upper and lower positions. means for leading the web from the supply roll to and through the feed rolls when located in their upper position and from thence downwardly through the printing units of the first stack and upwardly through the printing units of the second stack for nonperfecting the web. and means for leading the web from the supply roll to and through the feed rolls when located in their lower position and from thence upwardly through the printing units of the first stack, then downwardly and then upwardly through the printing units of the second stack for perfecting the web without changing the elements of the driving means.

HANS J. LUEHRS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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